Drawing frame



Sept. 11, 1951 R. c. BERKER ,56

' DRAWING FRAME Filed April 22, 19 17 7 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 J? /6' I. 3 m i Q INVENTOR. 13 0404 6536/)? A ick/Vacs.

Sept. H, 1951 R. c. BERKER 2,567,467

DRAWING FRAME Filed lApri1.22, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllllll jl" I I I Ilfillnlll] w llulhlul fawn/93M I A 'r-ronwevs.

Sept. 11, 1951 R. c. BERKER I 2,567,467

DRAWING FRAME Filed April 22, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 AT TORNEY s.

Sept. 11, 1951 I R, c BERKER 2,567,467

} I DRAWING FRAME Filed April 22, 194'? asheets-sheet 4 A Tram/5Y6.

Sept. 11, 1951 13. Bl-iRKEF "2567,46?

DRAWING FRAME- Fild April 22. 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 11, 1951' R. c. BERKER 2,567,467

' DRAWING FRAME Filed April 22, 1947 s SheetsSheet 6 IN V EN TOR.

al 491% 6. Barker BY 7 flmyflww ATTORNEYS} j p 11, 1951 R. c. BERKER 2,567,467

DRAWING FRAME Filed April 22, 1947 8.Sheets -Sheet 7 INVENTOR.

A T TORNEYS.

R. c. BERKER' DRAWING FRAME Sept. 1 l, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed April 22, 1947 I INVENTOR.

BY flMw $6 M? ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES- O F F I C E DRAWING FRAME Ralph C. Berker, Hoxsie, R. I.

Application April 22, 1947, Serial No. 743,023

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to drawing frames and particularly to a novel method and apparatus for effective high speed drawing of wool and like fibers preparatory to the spinning-process.

In processing wool and like materials as received from the Nobel combs preparatory to the spinning process, the silver is passed through a series of gill drawing frames so as to provide the necessary blending, drawing and doubling of the slivers. This manner of processing wool to produce a sliver or slubbing requires the pack aging of each sliver as delivered from the gill frame so as to be transferred to the next gill frame of the set. Further, the conventional gill drawing frame has opposite sets of faller bars or combs which are traversed through the wool fibers by so-called gill screws. Such an apparatus is operated at a relatively low speed.

One of theobjects of this invention is to improve generally upon the conventional practice of. processing wool sliver preparatory to the spinning process.

Another object of the invention is the prvision of a drawing apparatus wherein a single pass of wool slivers therethrough shall produce a sliver comparable to a like product produced by the separate action thereon of a series of gill frames.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a gill drawing apparatus for drawing, doubling and imparting a twist to woolsliver.

Another object of this invention is to improve generally on gill drawing frames.

Another object of this invention is to provide a gill drawing frame having a larger number of fallers in a space comparable to a like space in the conventional gill drawing frame.

Another object of this invention is to provide a gill drawing frame so constructed as to be operable at a much higher speed than heretofore.

Another object of this invention is to provide a gill drawing head so constructed as to eliminate the usual gill screws, faller cams and conductors.

A more specific object of this invention is to simplify the construction of gill drawing heads.

Another object of this invention is to provide a gill drawing head wherein the fallers will be positively carried from one path of movement to the other.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a gill head so constructed wherein the '2 fallers will be advanced along their path of travel in intermittent steps.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a gill drawing head which can be manufactured ata comparatively low cost of production and which will be durable and satisfactory in use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating diagrammatically a drafting apparatus embodying my invention; 3

Fig. 2 is a front view of a gill head of the drafting apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line S-3 of Fig. 2 showing the faller transferring mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken substantially along line"1'l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 88 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the fallers made according to the invention;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a transfer member employed for moving the fallers from one path of travel to the other;

Fig. 11 is an elevational view of a fragmentary portion of a modified construction of faller and means for transferring the same from one path of movement to the other;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the faller shown in Fig. 11 and taken along line I2-l2 of Fig. ,11;

Fig. 13 is an end view of a further modification of a construction for transferring a faller from one path of movement to the other;

Fig. 14 is an elevational view of a fragmental portion of the structure shown in Fig. 13;

' Fig. 15 is an elevational view of a fragmental portion of a construction for transferring a faller from one path of travel to the other wherein the end portion of a faller may be stremthened;

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view of the gearing between the power shaft and the vertical shaft of each gill head.

In carrying out my novel process, the wool sliver, as received from the Nobel combs in forms of tops, is passed through a plurality of gill heads which are positioned in side-by-side relation. The slivers, after passing through these gill .eads, are guided to be doubled or formed into a single sliver. This single sliver is guided to a plurality of spaced sets of drawing rollers. The sliver is carried from one set of drawing rollers to the other by carrier rolls which are positioned between each set of drawing rollers as is usual in apparatus of this type. The sliver, after being acted upon by the plurality of sets of drawing rollers, is received in another gill head and a set of drawing roller to be further combed and drawn. From the last drawing operation, the

sliver is received by a twisting and take-up mechanism which imparts a twist to the sliver and packages the same in the form of a slubbing.

This new method of processing W001 as received from the Nobel combs to produce a slubbing eliminates the heretofore necessary packaging and transferring of sliver from one gill drawing frame to the other.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the invention, l designates generally an apparatus in which the above described process may be conveniently carried out. The apparatus 10, shown more or less diagrammatically in Fig. 1 of the drawings, comprises a plurality of gill heads H which are positioned in side-by-side relation and are constructed in a manner to be hereinafter described. Each gill head will receive a single or a doubled sliver as the case may be depending upon the desired blend and weight of slubbing desired. The combs of each gill head will act upon the slivers in a manner usual in apparatus of this character, but at a much higher rate of traverse of the combs through the wool fibers because of the particular construction of gill head.

In front of these gill heads, a transfer plate or guide [2 is positioned for receiving the slivers from the drawing rollers ll of the gill heads. This transfer plate is provided with a plurality of openings l3, l4 and I5 through which the sliver passes to be guided thereby and formed into a single sliver. In the present instance, the openings I3, l4 are positioned in the plate so as to be opposite the end gill heads l6 and H. The sliver l8 from the gill head I6 is threaded through the opening [3, while the sliver l9 from the gill head I! is threaded through opening l4. These two slivers I8 and I!) are then led beneath the plate and pass upwardly through the opening 15 to be merged with the sliver 20 from the centrally positioned gill head of the set. A trumpet or like guide 2| is mounted in a line with the opening 15 at a position to receive and compact the now single sliver 22.

The sliver 22 is received from the guide 2| and acted upon by a plurality of sets of drawing rollers 23. These are mounted in spaced relation and in line with each other in tandem fashion in front of the guide 2!. Each set of drawing rollers may be of a usual construction and may consist of two lower fluted rollers 24 and 25 and an upper smooth roller 26. Between each set of drawing rollers, there is positioned a pair of driven rollers 21 for supporting and moving the sliver from one set of drawing rollers to the other. These may also be of any approved design. A single gill head 28 is positioned in front of the sets of drawing rollers 23 to receive the sliver 22 after acted upon by the drawing rollers 23. The gill head 28 is of a construction similar to the gill heads II and is provided with a usual set of drawing rollers 29 which cooperate with the combs of the gill head to provide a second combing and further drawing of the sliver 22. The sliver as delivered from the drawing rollers 29 is received by a packaging and twisting mechanism which may be of a usual construction and includes a take-up spool 30 and a flier 4 3|. By means of the flier 3|, a twist is imparted to the sliver to form the same into a slubbing.

I have shown an apparatus having three gill heads ll positioned side by side and three sets of drawing rollers interposed between the heads II and 28. However, the number of gill heads and sets of drawing rollers may be increased or decreased in accordance with the character of the materials acted upon or the quality of work desired, for example, in some instances two gill heads in spaced tandem relation may be provided with a plurality of sets of drawing rollers interposed between the gill heads, such as b omitting the heads l6 and H. In illustrating the apparatus diagrammatically, I have omitted showing any supporting means or framework for mounting the parts shown or means for rotating the sets of drawing rollers. Since such means form no part of the present invention, it is not necessary to show the same for a clear understanding of the invention.

Each g'nl head (see Fig. 2) comprises opposite spaced supports or bearing members 32 and 33. The bearing members 32 and 33 are similarly constructed and are rigidly attached at their lower portion to a support 34 forming part of the framework of the drawing apparatus. The bearing members 32 and 33 are further tied to each other at their upper end portion by means of lugs or ears 35 which protrude upwardly from each bearing member with the ears on one bearing member positioned opposite to an ear on the other bearing member. The ears are each provided with an opening 36, and a tie rod 31 extends between opposite ears. The end portion of each rod is threaded and reduced in diameter so as to extend through an opening 36 with the shoulder 31' formed thereon engaging the surface about the opening 36. A split washer 38 and a nut 39 secure the end portion of the tie rod in place to the ear.

Between these bearing members there extends an upper and a lower set of fallers designated generally 40 and M, respectively. The two sets of fallers are moved in separate parallel paths which extend from one end portion of the bearing member to the other and return along separate parallel paths. Thus, each set of fallers travels in one path in one direction and return in the opposite direction in another path. As is well known in the art, during the working stroke of the fallers, the pins on one set of fallers intersect the pins on the other set as the same is traversed through the fibers of the sliver. Accordingly, one end portion of the upper set of fallers is supported and. slidably mounted on bars or saddles 42 and 43 which are mounted in the bearing member 32 in parallel relation and extend lengthwise of the bearing members. The opposite end portions of these fallers are similarly supported in similarly disposed saddles 44 and 45 in the bearing member 33. The lower set of fallers 4| are similarly supported and slidably mounted on saddles 46 and 41 on the bearing member 32 and saddles 48 and 49 on the bearing member 33. The upper set of fallers is moved or traversed along the saddles 43 and 45 from one end portion of the bearing members to the other end thereof and return along the saddles 42 and 44. The lower set of fallers are similarly moved in one direction along the saddles 46 and 48 and return along the saddles 41 and 49. The saddles 43 and 45 provide the path along which the fallers of the upper set are moved during the working stroke thereof, While the saddles 46 and 48 provide a similar adjacent pasaller path foo falters of. this los es set during the working; strclge titer-root. The fallers of the upperset are. retained; along the patlg termed by the; saddles; 42 and i4; and: the falilsrs ofi the lotion set, arc ramm d a on tbs path formed: by: saddles; 41: and M 1 1," 5.9. Gsee 5; is. p ovided aim sp its: o1:- iss .15- ?I'ha pins; a! on,- oneset of: falters; are ar anssd to be spaced staggered relation wi a res ct to the pins; 55E on the; Qthel seat. iaillfi fisa. a 2 31i ortion or each taller is. prorid d; w th as; once ing 52.

Tho fallcrs on tho upper set; a c mount d so that the pins 51-: thereon depend thslzsfmmr and the lowerfalters; are: mounted so.- i at p ps 54- thereon extend upwardly lih138f f m- Tho-pa .f movementv oftbe slircr mbued bs i l lass s located between the. saddles 431 .5 middle saddles; 48: and 48; Thepifis- 51 are 0. 4. 18.1 am so that those on one. set. of a alz ra W lli i tersect the pin on the other set of. sailor astraaserssd lossisidinallrtbroua r tbs a s-rs bct s; dra and com ed t soeshtnc si be h.

There are a clural ta at .i each set. theso arepc iti ncd to, bc co te othsr alocs the r isiriaonta paths of ravel Ib a i r morcd ssstn iss of: tho bear ng:

in de ail, sated member or i hayns an en arged bead The in is lidabls e tends through. an. op n; ing 58 in an end wall 57; of; the bearing mengrber at a lo at on. to be l ne ith an end port oi..- hs alters T115? pin 5 is movable into out f ncasem nt th. tbs diaosnt en ialler o he swims T e amount o morcmc t of the p n 5 snob to m re th t ilors a work 'j'siroka of the. nipv a dis nc substantially e ual tc nctbiclsnsss o a allen The p n 54 i cam a tuated t b moved toward and into en agem nt with the. ia sizs- Accordly a lower as s sivot lly moun cd to. a supp r 59 as. at. to... Qn arm st of the. love es ends nto cpgass nerrt with tbs head 55 and. the other arm (52 ext nds into ensogcmeni with. a spo od o pin Ibi pm. 53 slidsoly sstsnds thr ugh an open n #34. i th 5'!- Tbs in er end eatrernii r 6 of the, pin it ngages wi h the sun fac of a carat? a d is moved t eby o r k the lcvo .55 to m vs L s pin. .5 nto o sassmcm with. tbs falisrs and mor the some.v as pro us y descr bed The r m 5. i mo in the pp s t dircoiion or awa fr m the lcr by m s o a compress n sp ing 6 bs sp ng e r s the body of t o pin, with one end thereofabutting against the head 55 and the other end thereof resting on thc bottom of a cavity 68 provided by enlarging the openingiE The timing of the apparatus in the present arrangement is such that the pin 54 will be reciprocatcd twice for each revolution of the 0am. i

In order to transfeg the fallers from one pat the and of the working stroke of the fallers of The compri es an. lop

ipss for the saddles at the. upper set: to: transits ta z srsto t mra pram cot, Thcra sa me an sm min; e h. bear-ins ser-soar t and s pp tt onsd at. the end oftlao ret rn stroke: o t e f ll to transfer-the. same. into; the pathofi t aw li g stroke oftheuppcr set.- 'Tl xolowensetp 11ers is'similarly provided: with. imilar mechanism Since each set of iallers. is. similar n m 32 at its endportion in members. 2 and and the mechani ms for operating each s t oi allsrsis also; or a similarconstruction and arran ement. onlythc. mechanism for operating one end; Pm: tion of a set of falters will be described in dctaii, The transfer mechanism 619. comprises; airless; ber H having a body portion of a disk-formation provided with a. central. opening: 12% (sea Figs, 5 and 10);. Two pins or studs 1c. extendfrom one side of the. body- .diametricatly opposite. to each other. This mcmberftl is. mounted. forrotation in a, recess 1 4. with the studs 1.3 thereon extends ing in tha end portion of the path of; travel: of the falters. iihe, transfer mechanism 11?. (see Fi 3) is positioned opposite to and. at. tbieiotheg end portion of the. bearing members andalso comprises a member 5 having a body portion of a disk formation and which is provided with two. studs [6 diametrically spaced from each other a distance equal to. the spacing ofthe studs H on membep H. The. member 1:5; has a but 'll which is. iournalled for rotation in antic friction member 1.18; mounted end wall to. rho hub H- has a reduced end portion on for a purpose to. be: hereinafter described". The bearing members; 32 and dsareessentially of a. similar construction and arrangement and each compris s an upper and lowersection II and 8.2:, respectively (see. Rig. The. upper section 8| normally rests against the. Hat top of the lower section 82. The-upon section maybc arranged to be moved away from the lowel? section in any suitable mannerand profesably'. av hinged joint. 84. is provided with an axis substantially coincident. with the parting lino tie-.- tween the two; sections- Bt and 8.2; The hinge between the twosections may. consist of ears #5 and-8s which project 'rearwardly from the. outer sides of the. sections and each is formed withfhubs 81 and 818, respectively, through whionextends 8: Bi Qt pin or 12M 88- laeld in place in any suitablemanacr, Y

Each ssction 8 and .82 is of substantially simflaigcqnstruction and formed $6188 to provide rsccssss and 3a in the upper section and re;-

cesses. st and 5.2 in the lower section. In these recesses. the end portions ofthe. fallers may be -m0ll tsee. Fig. 2). These recesses. provide shslvosor led es, 83, as, 9.5 and as forming mdunta which are bolted thoretdby scrows Q?- I 1.

In the upper section 81 '(see 3'i,-a shaft lfldis'mounted for rotation. 'I -his shaft tlidhas a reduced end portion Iii-t which extends through the opening ti-mzmembesfl and is ioumalled in antiafriotion bearing I02 mounted in the end wall I03. Member H is fastened to the reduced portion ill by key- {0d The other end of the shaft Hifl'has a reduced end portion HM which extends through the-hub H. or member 15 and is. spaced therefrom so as to permit relative r0.- ta-tian therebetweenw The reduced portion i0! is journalied in the end wall 15 by meansof anthfriotion bearing [05 mounted therein. A shaft H31 is similarlymounted in the lower sec.- tion 82 and has a member H fastened thereto asabove described.

'I36 will yield under the force On the reduced hub portion of the transfer device I0, a gear I08 isreceived and fastened theretoby a key or spline I09. The reduced portion 30' of the hub 11 of the member I in the lower section 82 is extended to provide a bearing for a bevel gear IIO which is keyed to rotate therewith. Thebeveled'gear IIO is provided with a hub having a reduced portion III which receives a gear wheel I I 6 which is fastened thereto in any suitable manner such as by a spline or key II'I. Motion is transferred from the beveled gear III! to the gear I08 by means of idler gears H8 and H9, these two idlers being iner igagement with each other and with the gears I08 and H6. 3

Motion for rotating bevel gear I I0 and -shafts I00 and I01 is derived from any suitable source which'may betransmitted through a horizontal shaft I20 on which are mounted beveled gears I2I for each gill head. Each bearing member 32 and 33 is provided with a vertical shaft I22 which is properly mounted, such as by an upright support I23 secured to the base or frame 34 of the machine. The lower end of shaft I22 is provided with a gear I2'I which engages with geargI2I. The upper. part of the support I23 is provided with a truss bearing I24. Mounted on this vertical shaft at the upper end portion thereof so as to rest on the bearing I24 is a beveled gear .I25. This gear is fastened to the shaft I22 such as' by a spline I 26. It will be apparent that the rotation of the shaft I 22 will, through gears I25 and H0, transmit motion to the gear II6fastened to the hub or the gear H0 and through gears H8 and I I3 to the gear I08 and thereby to mechanism I0 in the upper section 8|. Motion is transmitted to mechanism I0 in the lower section through gear IIO. P

The rotation of mechanism 60 is had through a'beveled gear I20 which engages with the gear I25. This gear I28 is mounted on the shaft I01 and is secured thereto in any suitable manner such as by a spline I29. This gear I28 is also provided with a hub portion I30 to which is splined'a gear I3I. To shaft IOI' a gear I32 is splined so as to rotate therewith. Motion is transferred from the gear I2I.to gear I32 by means of idler gears I33 and I34 (see Fig. 8).

In transferring a faller from an upper to a lower path of travel, the faller is moved in a space at the ends of the path of travel which is designated' generally I35 (seeFig. 6). In order to support the fallers which aremoved to register with the space I35 prior to being transferred to the lower path, a spherical member I36 is mounted in any opening I31 which has a restricted opening I30 through which the members I36 partly protrude into the space I35 to be engaged by the lower edge of the end of the faller. A compression spring I39 biases the sphere toward the space I35 and a screw I40 maintains the spring in adjusted position. When the faller is moved by the transfer member, the member applied to the faller;

In Fig. 11, I have shown a modification of faller and transfer mechanism whichcomprises an arm I which is rotatably mounted and from which a single stud I42 projects. This stud engages with an opening I43 provided on the end portion of the faller. The arm I is also provided with a hub portion I 44 which provides a support for holding the end faller in position prior to its being transferred to another path of travel.

As the group of fallers is advanced 'in its path of travel, the first faller of the group will be advanced to a position in the path of travel of the stud I42 with the curved extremity I43 thereof riding on the hub I 44. As the arm I H rotates to engage the stud I42 with the opening I43, the hub I44 will be rotating out of engagement with the curved surface I 43. The relation between the stud and hub is such that when the stud is fully Within the opening I43 the hub will have been moved out of supporting engagement with the surface I43 to permit transferring of the faller to another path of travel.

In Figs. 13 and 14, I have shown a further modification in which instance the faller is provided with a stud I41 extending from the end extremity thereof and the transfer mechanism is provided with openings I40. The operations of the several modifications are all somewhat simi-' lar and constitute Geneva motions whereby the fallers are moved from one path of travel to the other at substantially rightangles thereto.

In Fig. 15, I have shown a similar construction but modified to the extent that the faller is provided with two openings I45 and I46.

In this modified construction, the faller will be moved from an upper to a lower path of travel by the stud onthe-arm of the transfer member engaging with the upper opening I45 in a manner similar to that above described for the construction shown in Figs. 11 and '12. In 'moving a faller from a lower to an upper path of travel the stud'on the lower transfer member will engage with the lower opening I46. The hub of arm I4I will be omitted and the faller being transferred will be supported in the mounting thereof. In this construction, a stronger faller-end portion may be constructed.

The operation of the several parts of the gill headhas'been given in connection with the detailed description thereof, and a brief general description of the operation of the gill head as a whole will suflice in order to clearly understand its mode of operation. Withthe movable parts of the head set into action in proper timed relation, the pin 54 (see Fig. 4) will be actuated by means of the cam surface 66. This cam surface, in the present instance, is formed integral with the transfer members 63 and 10 on the side thereof opposite to that from which the studs extend. The movement of this pin 54 will engage the faller previously positioned in the space adjacent thereto and move the same a distance substantially equal to its thickness. This movement of the faller will be transmitted through all of the fallers in this path of travel and advance the further faller of this group of fallers into the space in which a stud of a transfer member extends. The stud on the transfer member in its rotation will engage the walls of the opening 52 in the end portions of the faller and move the faller to a position opposite its other path of travel so as to be acted upon by a pin 54 of another mechanism 53 to be along such path and also'move the fallers ahead of it in this path to feed the most advanced faller thereof to be similarly acted upon by the transfer mechanism positionedat the end of this latter path.

I claim: I a I 1. Agill-drawing apparatus comprising oppositely spaced bearing members, a plurality of fallers extending generally 'horizontally between said bearing members with the end portions of .said fallers slidably'mounted in said bearing members and movable lengthwise thereof in 0pposite paths of travel, means at the end of each path of travel engaging said fallers for moving the same along said paths, and second means having a portion thereof inter-locking with said fallers for transferring the same from one path of travel to the other.

2. A gill-drawing apparatus comprising oppositely spaced bearing members, a plurality of fallers extending generally horizontally between said bearing members with their end portions slidably mounted in said bearing members and movable in opposite paths of travel, means at the end of each path of travel for engaging said fallers for moving the same in one direction along said paths, a transfer member at the end of each path of travel having a portion thereof interlocking with said fallers for transferring said fallers from one path of travel to the other and means for actuating said transfer member.

3. A gill-drawing apparatus comprising oppositely spaced bearing members, a plurality of fallers extending between said bearing members with their end portions slidably mounted in said bearing members and provided with an opening, said fallers being movable lengthwise of the bearing members in opposite directions, a pin positioned at one end in each path of travel and movable into and out of engagement with said fallers for moving the same along said paths of travel, a transfer member rotatably mounted at the opposite end of each path of travel and having a pin thereon for engaging with the opening in the fallers for moving and transferring the fallers from one path of movement to the other.

4. A gill-drawing apparatus comprising oppositely spaced bearing members, a plurality of fallers extending generally horizontally between said bearing members and movable in opposite paths of travel and having openings in the end thereof, means at the end of each path of travel for engaging said fallers for moving the same in one direction along said paths, a transfer member at the end of each path of travel having a pin receivable in said openings for engaging and transferring said fallers from one path of travel to the other and means for actuating said transfer member.

5. A gill-drawing apparatus comprising oppositely spaced bearing members, a plurality of fallers extending generally horizontally between said bearing members and movable in opposite paths of travel and having openings in the end thereof, means at the end of each path of travel for engaging said fallers for moving the same in one direction along said paths, a transfer memher at the end of each path of travel having spaced pins receivable in said openings for engaging and transferring said fallers from one path of travel to the other and means for actuating said transfer member.

6. A gill-drawing apparatus comprising oppositely spaced bearing members, a plurality of fallers extending generally horizontally between said bearing members and movable in opposite paths of travel and having an opening in the ends thereof, means at the end of each path of travel for engaging said fallers for moving the same in one direction along said paths, a transfer member at the end of each path of travel for engaging and transferring said fallers from one path of travel to the other and means for actuating said transfer members, said transfer member and the apertured end portion of said fallers constituting a Geneva mechanism.

7. A gill-drawing apparatus comprising oppositely spaced bearing members, a plurality of fallers extending between said members and in contact with each other and with the end portions thereof slidably mounted in said bearing members for movement lengthwise thereof and means including a pin slidably mounted for reciprocal linear movement for engaging and applying a pushing action to the end faller in a path of travel thereof to be transmitted through one faller to another for advancin said fallers in said path of travel.

8. A gill-drawing apparatus comprising oppositely spaced bearing members, a plurality of fallers extending between said members and in contact with each other and with their end portions sildably mounted in said bearing members, a pin slidably mounted for reciprocal linear movement and engaging the end faller for moving said fallers lengthwise of said bearing members, and cam means for actuating said pin.

9. A gill-drawing apparatus comprising oppositely spaced bearing members, a plurality of fallers extending between said bearing members and with their end portions slidably mounted in said bearing members and movable lengthwise thereof in opposite paths of travel, means including a pin slidably mounted for reciprocal linear movement for engaging and moving said fallers in one path of travel and second means for transferring said fallers to the other path of travel.

10. A gill-drawing apparatus comprising oppositely spaced bearing members, a plurality of fallers extending between said bearing members and with their end portions slidably mounted in said bearing members and movablelengthwise thereof in opposite paths of travel, means including a pin slidably mounted for reciprocal linear movement for engaging the end faller at one end of a path of travel of said fallers for moving the same in said path of travel, and means positioned at the opposite end of said path of travel for transferring said fallers to the other path of travel.

11. A gill-drawing apparatus comprising oppositely spaced bearing members, a plurality of fallers extending between said bearing members with their end portions slidably mounted in said bearing members, a pin slidably mounted for reciprocal linear movement movabl into and out of engagement with said fallers for moving the same lengthwise of said bearing members, a pivoted lever for engaging said pin and moving the same into engagement with a faller and cam means for actuating said lever.

RALPH C. BERKE'R.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,673,407 Holdsworth June 12, 1928 1,984,200 Schlumberger Dec. 11, 1934 2,107,378 Kato Feb. 8, 1938 2,281,240 Holdsworth Apr. 28, 1942 2,306,377 Bird et a1 Dec. 29, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 938 Great Britain of 1871 4,642 Great Britain of 1893 111,741 Great Britain Dec. 13, 1917 35,504 Germany Apr. 30, 1888 

